Watertown man gets 12 years for cocaine possession in Adams

A Watertown man was sentenced Friday in Jefferson County Court to 12 years in state prison for possessing a large amount of cocaine in Adams with the intent to sell the drug.

Christopher A. Wilson, 32, was sentenced for a Jan. 7 guilty plea to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He, with others, was accused of possessing more than 8 ounces of cocaine, as well as items used to weigh and package the drug, April 1, 2012, in the Pinehurst Apartments, 6 Institute St., Apt. 7. Village police, who had gone to the residence to investigate a reported marijuana odor, found 1.3 kilograms of cocaine and estimated the drugs street value at $130,000.

In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to undergo an additional five years of supervision upon his release. He was sentenced as a second felony offender, having been convicted in 2003 in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, of possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute it.

In connection with the cocaine found at the Adams apartment, Emmanual L. Sheppard, 31, Marietta, Ga., was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by five years post-release supervision, for Jan. 4 guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, five counts of criminal use of drug paraphernalia and single counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree conspiracy. Rajsheem L. Richardson, 25, Watertown, pleaded guilty April 22 to two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and is expected to be sentenced May 24 to 5½ years in prison.